Muscle pain causes, as with those of other soft tissue injuries, can be the result of injury to muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

Some of the most common muscle pain causes are muscle overuse, direct impact from sport, or suffering force to the body greater than what can be handled.

When you overuse a muscle or joint through repetitive activity, you may develop a more persistent injury. Common injuries include ankle or wrist sprains, soft tissue bruises, groin or hamstring strains. It’s always important to seek professional help.

Before you jump into any fitness activity, remember the importance of warming up and cooling down. Warming up increases your body temperature, which warms up your muscles. Warm muscles, tendons and ligaments are more fluid, so they stretch and contract more easily. They are less likely to be injured.

Before you jump into any fitness activity, remember the importance of warming up and cooling down.

Cooling down stretches the muscles that can be shortened during exercise. Gradually decreasing exercise activity prevents blood from pooling in lower muscles, which in turn doesn’t upset the flow of blood to the heart.